laguna33p

Can anyone tell me if the houses in aust are freehold or leasehold? Also, compared to the uk, are there any extra household bills apart from the extra expense involved looking after the pool!!!

Vash the Stampede

Freehold is standard. Leasehold is rare. Assume freehold unless otherwise stated.

Same as UK: utilities, council rates, water rates.

Buzzy--Bee

Yes. There is the other extra expense of looking after the tennis court.



Buzzy

laguna33p

Thanks

Swerv-o

What about the minefield of strata titled properties?


S

laguna33p

Whats strata?

NickyC

Not in Canberra, it's not .

Every house in the ACT is built on leasehold land - though I seem to recall that it's an automatically renewed 99 year lease so not something that makes a real difference real-estate wise. It's one of those quirky ACT things.

GinaUK

"Strata" is the Australian version of leasehold. If you buy a "unit" (Australian English for "flat") it is very unlikely to be freehold - it'll be strata.

Gina

Swerv-o

Also applies to some townhouses and villas on complexes or all sharing the same block of land. There are many complex and often frustrating rules and regulations to owning a strata titled property.


S

laguna33p

Yes I would never buy leasehold/strata, so that means never buy a flat

Buzzy--Bee

It applies to an entire estate of several hundred houses near where I live!

Buzzy

laguna33p

but (i hope) the majority are freehold??

Buzzy--Bee

No. They are all under one strata agreement and are therefore the equivalent of leasehold. This arrangement for new housing estates is very rare so I wouldn't be worried.

The Estate in question is called Waterways - www.waterways.com.au

Buzzy